Not moving unrealistic?

J

Johnnymitch74

Well-Known Member
Hi all,
Another prospective dispatcher here, and here and have appreciated all the help I've received here just by reading!
I live in the MSP metro area, and would like to get my dispatch ticket, but don't want to move. I don't want to leave the midwest. ☺️ Anyways, from what I've read, it's unrealistic to not move when getting the first job. But since there's two regionals at MSP, would this be possible? If I got my ticket and there weren't dispatch openings yet, what would be a good job to take with a regional in the meantime to get my foot in the door? I've heard crew scheduling can be pretty miserable, but they're always hiring for them haha.

Also, does anybody have any experience with the Academy College program in bloomington?

Thanks!
 
It is very realistic to eventually get a job as a Dispatcher in MSP at Compass or Endeavor. Sun Country is also a option, but you will need experience first and job openings are less frequent due to their smaller size. Any job you can get in the Operations Center will allow you to get to know other Dispatchers and Managers to network with when there is a opening. However, your timing will have to be right because some companies will require you to stay in the position they hired you in for 6 months to 1 year. I even knew someone stuck in Crew Scheduling for longer than a year because the manager would not sign off on them leaving for Dispatch due to a shortage of crew schedulers.

I went to Academy College and it was a good experience. Friendly people who work there and I had a knowledgable Instructor. I know their is a different Instructor there now since I attended.
 
I was in your exact position a little under two years ago- living in MSP and not particularly wanting to leave. You're right to say that MSP is a decent place to try and stay because of its two regionals, but it all depends on timing. Had either Compass or Endeavor been hiring when I got out of dispatch school, then that's where I'd be now. As it turned out, I got my first offer from an airline based decidedly NOT in the midwest, and I took it. You may be willing to wait longer than I was, it just depends what's more important to you.

Oktex is right on about scheduling. I know we have several people at my current shop who have made or plan to make the transition (usually because they weren't 23 yet, to be honest). I wouldn't want to do it, but again, that's personal preference.

I didn't go to Academy College, but I tried! I signed up for the course about 2 months before it was due to start. When the time came, I was the only one enrolled so they cancelled the class. I ended up at Sheffield with no regrets, but just be wary (it was fall/winter as well so a little south Florida time didn't hurt). For what it's worth, when I contacted Endeavor before enrolling in dispatch school, they told me they prefer to hire from Academy College (and Sheffield when there are no Academy grads around).
 
Since you live in a city with multiple dispatch offices, it is possible to get a job locally without experience. However, you can't count on it 100% either. I would plan on possibly having to move for your first gig, in case none of the MSP based airlines are hiring, and then apply and move back there once you get hired by one of them. Now, if your goal is to make it to a major airline...then you will have to move when that happens, or at least commute.
 
MT said:
Commuting is always an option. An expensive and draining one, but an option.
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Though I know everyone's situation is different, the advise by MT is spot on...I have been commuting for the past six months and will have to do it for two more months and am counting down the days for it to end. There are ways to make it work as far as expenses. I know of a couple of dispatchers that commute that share a crash pad with some pilots and flight attendant's. I believe they are paying around $200 per month for it.

The worst part about commuting aside of not seeing your family is how draining it is on your body.For most of the junior guys we all work pretty odd hours where you don't get the best of sleep anyways. Then add on top of that however much time you spend commuting(6-8 hours per week for me) and going back and forth between time zones it really starts to mess with your internal clock.

I would highly recommend avoiding commuting at all costs. Just some food for thought.
 
Thanks all! Helps a lot. I want to stay in MSP pretty bad, so I'd be willing to wait longer. I don't think I have the stamina for commuting. We'll see I guess. Thanks for all the help!
 
Its not unrealistic...a bit optimistic, but not unrealistic. Im from the MSP area, went to Academy and spent my regional time at Compass.

Academy is....well its random really. When I went, I had a great instructor (a regular member of this forum) and was happy with my experience there, and it led me to a spot at Compass. He's moved on and they've had a couple instructors come through there since. I dont know who or the quality of the instruction there now, but keep in mind they still have to operate at 80% completion factor to maintain the program, and the FAA inspector takes his role seriously.

As far as airlines, yeah you have a few. Regional level you have Compass and Endeavor, both good options. Obviously both fly for Delta, Compass also American. Endeavors a bigger operation, but Compass is flying for two airlines, which is nice to get experience with multiple carriers, and they only fly E170/175's, Endeavor CRJ's. Either one would be a great place to start. Speaking from Experience, I really enjoyed my time at Compass, great group of people. At the higher level, you have Sun Country, which is small and tough to get into. They just had some hiring, but dont think they hired many. As far as pay, Sun Country is better then regional, and you can make a decent living, but its not as high as Delta, Southwest, American or United.

As far as getting in the door. Compass and Endeavor both like to hire Academy grads, atleast Compass still tends to, I know Endeavor used to, not sure if they still do. Getting a job as a crew scheduler is a viable route. At Compass we had a couple crew schedulers make the move over to dispatch. And crew scheduling is something that is almost always hiring....mainly cause the job sucks and there is high turnover. But a great way to get in the door.
 
just some food for thought, every job you turn down that isnt MSP based is practical experience you arent getting....that and seniority
 
If you want to stay in MSP, avoid Compass and wait for Endeavor.

Compass is owned by TSA. TSA owns two other airlines that need pilots. Not far fetched that TSA may try to merge all three to help with the lack of pilots. A merger would mean a move to STL.

Endeavor has a better situation being owned by Delta. Less of a chance for them to move.
 
Flagship_dxer said:
If you want to stay in MSP, avoid Compass and wait for Endeavor.

Compass is owned by TSA. TSA owns two other airlines that need pilots. Not far fetched that TSA may try to merge all three to help with the lack of pilots. A merger would mean a move to STL.

Endeavor has a better situation being owned by Delta. Less of a chance for them to move.
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Possible but unlikely. They didn't move them in 2010 when they bought them because they knew that the talent that makes Compass what it is would not be moving to STL.

Now if Compass were to fall off the wagon operationally and organizationally I could see the move to STL.

It actually wouldn't surprise me to see the other two move north in such a scenario.

Nothing is for sure in aviation, but remember, big daddy D thinks everyone loves the ATL.
 
belgiumania said:
As a counterpoint, I would be reluctant bet my long term future on a regional owned by Delta. They have a long and brutal history of destroying regionals, particularly ones they own (see Comair).

Anyway, just my two cents.
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100% Spot on. Being an employee of a Delya wholly owned is great, until they cast you off like a red headed step child.
 
MT said:
Possible but unlikely. They didn't move them in 2010 when they bought them because they knew that the talent that makes Compass what it is would not be moving to STL.
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In 2010, there was no pilot shortage because of age 65 and the great recession. Today, there is a pilot shortage caused mostly by the wages the regionals dont and probably cant afford to pay. The ATP rule and high cost of flight training makes it even worse. The majors are all going to be seeing a ton of retirements in the next 5 years. Consolidation in addition to downsizing will likely be the only way for the regionals to survive.

Yeah, Delta could potentially shut down endeavor but who would be able to staff their planes? The only reason Endeavor is staffing their planes so well today is because of the Delta money. Comair was shut down because their pilots went on strike and Delta got their revenge. In today's world, Comair wouldnt be shut down because nobody else could staff the flying.
 
Flagship_dxer said:
. Comair was shut down because their pilots went on strike and Delta got their revenge. In today's world, Comair wouldnt be shut down because nobody else could staff the flying.
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Comair was shut down because it had a unsustainable high cost structure. Delta made no attempts to cover up how pissed off it was that they had no buyers for Comair during the great purge of 2010. The memos took so many shots across the bow and you could cut the tension with a knife.

Detla has never liked owning regional. Throughout their history they've spun off multiple wholly owned carriers once they could fetch a nice profit.

Endeavor will get sold off too, it's just a matter of how long it takes to fatten up that cow for slaughter.
 
Flagship_dxer said:
If you want to stay in MSP, avoid Compass and wait for Endeavor.

Compass is owned by TSA. TSA owns two other airlines that need pilots. Not far fetched that TSA may try to merge all three to help with the lack of pilots. A merger would mean a move to STL.

Endeavor has a better situation being owned by Delta. Less of a chance for them to move.
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Its already known that Delta has been shopping Endeavor around, and they where actually in talk with TSA at one point about them buying Endeavor.

Compass also pays almost nothing for the building space they use, and it would be absolutely asinine to move them to STL for that reason alone.
 
Flagship_dxer said:
Yeah, Delta could potentially shut down endeavor but who would be able to staff their planes? The only reason Endeavor is staffing their planes so well today is because of the Delta money. Comair was shut down because their pilots went on strike and Delta got their revenge. In today's world, Comair wouldnt be shut down because nobody else could staff the flying.
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Delta is slowly getting out of the regional business. In the last few months, flights that were once flown by regionals, but now can't be covered by them, have been appearing in the mainline pilot bid packages. It will increase once the 190s come online. Why do you think, after the pilots turned down the TA, which had the 190s in it as a carrot, and management told them, "You'll NEVER see those planes here now," 2 months later Delta still bought the planes.

It's not inconceivable that the 76 seat flying could end up back at mainline if the surviving regionals can't cover the flying.
 
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